The Most Commonly-Asked Questions About CoolSculpting, Answered

By
Alison
Abbey, Special Projects Editor
| September 25, 2015

While there’s no magic way to get rid of stubborn diet- and workout-resistant fat, many have touted CoolSculpting as the closest thing to it. But are you a candidate? And does it really work? We answered five burning questions about this cool procedure.

What is the CoolSculpting procedure?

This nonsurgical FDA-approved procedure freezes fat for good to contour your body without surgery or downtime. Select the areas you want treated, and your doctor will use the device (which looks like a wand with a shoebox on the end of it) to crystalize the fat cells, which causes them to die. Your body will naturally process and eliminate the dead cells, reducing the amount of fat in the area.

Does It Hurt?Not usually. For the first few minutes, expect to feel pressure and intense cold, but that goes away quickly. Patients have even been known to fall asleep during the treatment.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?This question is best answered by the doctor performing the procedure, as results and timeframe vary based on your needs. While one treatment is enough for some candidates, others may require additional visits to their doctor.

How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate?Your doctor will be able to definitively answer this question, but most CoolSculpting candidates share common traits. If you are not obese, but have noticeable bulges in certain areas, or are dealing with pockets of unwanted fat that is resistant to diet and exercise, CoolSculpting is most likely a sound solution.

When Will I See Results?The changes in your body can show in as little as three weeks post-treatment, but you will experience the most dramatic changes after two months when your body flushes out the majority of the fat cells. Additional improvement can occur up for six months after the treatment, and as of now, CoolSculpting results are permanent.